baker



March 3, 1964 J. G. BAKER PRESSURE sENsING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l5, 1960 March 3, 1964 J. G. BAKER PRESSURE sENsING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1960 United States Patent O 3,123,689 PRESSURE SETISSII'JG BEVICE lohn Gordon Batter, Evansville, Wis., assigner to Baller lltanutacturing Qompany, Evansville, Wis., a corporaa tion ol? Wisconsin Filed Aug. l5, 196th Ser. No. 49,574 Claims. till. 20h-3l.)

This invention relates to a device for sensing changes in the pressure of a liquid at one point, for example, underground, and signaling deviations in such pressure at a remote point, for example, above ground.

The general object is to provide a new and improved device of the above character' which is especially adapted for use in sensing changes in water pressure in a pitless water pump installation and actuating the pump control switch in a location that may be subject to freezing temperatures.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary elevational view of a pitless pump construction equipped with a pressure sensing device embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical central sectional View.

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fitting for supporting the pressure switch.

FEiG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the linc" d-l of FlG. 2.

iiiG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a modilied type of mounting for the pressure sensing and switch actuator.

For purposes of illustration, the invention is shown in the drawings incorporated in a pitless pump installation of the reciprocating deep well type including alined tubes l@ and ll threaded into a hollow casting l2 disposed underground and below the normal frost line. An outlet 13 from the casting communicates through a pipe 9 with a storage tank (not shown) which is located at some distance from the pump installation.

The upper tube ll projects above the ground level and is clos-ed by a two-part cap lf;- bolted to a ring 59 which is threaded onto the tube lll. The ring supports the power actuator l5 for the pump, the actuator including, in this instance, an electric motor le adapted to be started and stopped in response to closure and opening of a switch i7. Tlc latter is disposed in a weatherproof enclosure preferably mounted in a readily accessible posit'on above ground and exteriorly of the well casing. ln the dee well pump shown for purposes of illustration, the pump includes a piston ll reciprocablc in a cylinder' il@ disposed below the frost line and defined by the lower end portion of a tube 2li within the casing and extending upwardly through the cap lll. The rod of the piston is coupled to a crank driven through a suitable speed reducer by the motor le.

The lower end oi the tube Ztl threads into the upper end of the hollow core 22 oit a spool 23 having upper and lower flanges 2li and 2.5, respectively, cooperating with the internal wall oi the casting l2 to denne an annular water passage 26 communicating with the discharge outlet i3. This passage is closed by suitable seals such as 0 rings 27 seated in peripheral grooves around the spool ilanges and pressed against cylindrical surfaces within the casting l2 above and below the discharge outlet. At its lower end, the spool core supports and communicates with a pipe 28 projecting downwardly through the casing l@ to a point below the water level in the ell,

A second piston lea (FIG. l) is disposed in the lower Cil end of the pipe 23, which constitutes a cylinder i9a for the piston, and the latter is connected to the piston 13 by a ertical rod 2lau so that the two pistons reciprocate together. As disclosed more iully in `Patent No. 2,657,63 3, the piston carries an automatic valve which opens on the downstroke and closes on the upstroke. Beneath the piston lila is a foot valve 22@ which also is automatic and closes on the downstrolie while opening on the upstroke.

During the upstrolqe of the reciprocating parts of the pump, a portion of the water forced upwardly through the pipe il@ by the piston lt occupies the space vacated by the piston l@ and the remainder of the water is forced through an opening 29 in the core 22 into the passage 26 and the outlet pipe 9. rthis opening is controlled by a valve fill preferably of the apper type shown in Patent No. 2,657,533 and comprising a disk 3l bodily movable toward and away from a seat 32 and continuously urged toward the latter by a spring (not shown). On the downstroke the foot valve 22a closes causing delivery of the water displaced by the piston 18 through the check valve fill and the outlet pipe 9.

ln accordance with the present invention, novel means is provided for sensing pressure changes within the passage 26 or the 9 and therefore vitliin the water storage tank and transmitting such changes to an actuator 33 for the switch l by which the pump motor is started and stopped. ln the form shown in HG. 2, the transmitting means is disposed within and extends along the narrow space 32e between the tube 2li ot the pump and the inner wall of the well casing. This transmitting means includes a conduit Se, 5l communicating with the passage 26 and extending up through the space 32a and out through the casing il or the cap l@ to the switch actuator 33. A liexible partition 33 disposed. beneath the irost line divides this conduit into upper and lower sections or chambers dit, 6l, respectively, the lower section el being subjected to the pressure in the passage while the upper section et? contains a non-freezing liquid Sil. ln this way, the pressure in the passage 26 is transmitted to the switch actuator through the flexible partition and the liquid Sti.

ln the present instance, the sensing means includes a rigid walled pipe 34 lying alongside the cylinder l@ and supported as through a threaded nipple 35 on the upper flange of the spool 23 from which the pipe projects upwardly. Herein, the nipple threads into the lower end of the pipe a hole .lo extending upwardly through the flange for establishing communication between the passage 2o and the interior of the pipe. A coupling 3'7 threaded into the upper end of the tube 314 tightly closes the latter and has a lower end portion oi reduce diameter closely telescoping with and cemented to a llenible wall partition which is closed at its lower end by a plug El@ and thereby constitutes the partition 3S. Preterably, the partition 3S, which is made olf a ilexible plastic material, is of somewhat smaller normal diameter than the pipe and exten-ds substantially throughout the full length oi the pipe .Qld which is disposed below the frost line.

The invention also contemplates preventing momentary pressure surges in the water passage and storage tank from being transmitted to the pressure switch rrnd producing false actuation thereof. This is accomplished by interposing in the lower chamber' til within the tube 3d an orifice 62 which is small enough in area to prevent a substantial `llow of water therethrough during the relatively short interval that the pressure surges persist as in the case of a reciprocating type of pump. As shown in FIG. 4, a bore is in one end of the nipple. In a pumping system operating etween 2O psi. and i0 psi., an orifice having a diameter of of an inch will aiaaess s effectively prevent the switch i7 yfrom responding to normal surges in the water pressure.

Herein, the switch actuator 33 includes a flexible diaphragm Viti forming one wall of a chamber di having a rigid wall i2 threaded onto the outer end 43 of a hollow iitting d3. The latter projects through the cap le and is clamped rigidly to the cap by a nut d4 screwed onto threads 4de on the fitting (HG. 3). Such clamping without turning of the fitting is facilitated by coaction between a non-circular head d5 on the fitting with the hat faces of lugs i7 on the inner wall of the cap. A gasket disposed between the head and the lower cap l@ (FlG. 3) forms a water-tight seal aroundV the fitting d3.

Through a plunger de?, the diaphragm motion is transmitted to a lever id` which, through suitable over-center means, opens and closes the switch 17 with a snap action. By adjusting the stress of a spring `lt-9, the pressures in the chamber di at which the switch is opened and closed may be varied as desired.

A capillary tube Si is permanently joined as by soldering to the coupling 37 and to the fitting i3 so as to connect the interior of the iiexible partition 3S through the bore or passage of the coupling with a passage 45a extending through the fitting. To transmit the pressure changes in the water tank to the switch actuator 33, the tube 3d, the capillary tube and the passage 45a are lled with the anti-freeze solution Si) or other liquid which will not solidify at freezing temperatures and is nontoxic. To facilitate bending during assembly of the cap la on the well casing, the tube 5l is looped or coiled intermediate its ends as indicated at SZ.

lt will be apparent that the pipe 3d, the partit-ion 38, the capillary 5t and the iitting i3 constitute a self-contained unit in which the solution Sti may be retained by a suitable cap (not shown) covering the outer end of the fitting. Before the spool and pump assembly is lowered into the well casing, the tube 34 is coupled to the spool by screwing `the nipple 35 into the hole 36. When the spool reaches its linal position against shoulders 53 on the casting l2, the iitting d3 will, due to the extra length of the capillary 5l, project above the upper end of the casing lli. As the lower part lll@ of the cap ld is itted down onto a lgasket 54 on the ring 59, the outer shank portion of the fitting 43 is threaded through a hole 55 and the head d5 fitted in lagainst the lug 47. Then the nut 4d is screwed onto the shank of the fitting which is held against turning, thus avoiding any possibility of twisting the capillary tube or breaking the joint between the latter and the fitting. The upper part 14h of the cap is fitted over the upper end4 of the tube 2li and clamped down against the sealing gland 56 by tightening nuts 57 on tie bolts 53 projecting upwardly from the ring 59.

Finally, the cap on the iitting d3 is removed and the switch housing is screwed onto the outer end of the fitting. This establishes communication between the liexible tube 33 and the chamber 4l of the switch actuator. Then, when the pump is started, the water pressure built up in the passage 25 will contract the Vtube 38 forcing fluid through the capillary tube into 4the chamber 4l. By properly adjusting the spring '49, the switch i7 may be adapted to respond to any desired range of pressure within the water storage tank.

in operation, it will be apparent that the partition 38 will expand and contract with changes in Vthe water pressure within the storage tank, the passage ,e6 and the pipe 34- thus causing the solution '5d to liow back and forth through the capillary tube 5l thereby transmitting the pressure changes to the diaphragm dit. As ,a'resul-t, the switch i7 will be opened and closed as the water pressure Vrises above and falls below a range predetermined by i rapid changes in pressure and thus prevents opening and l `closing of the switch due to momentary pressure variation in the passage 2d.

With the arrangement described above, the partition 35i, the coupling 37, the capillary tube 51 and the fitting may be assembled with the pipe Sli and iilled with fluid 55.9, capped, and skipped as a unit. This permits the use of factory made joints which practically eliminate the possibility of the liquid S@ leaking. Any such leaking might result in a permanent reduction of pressure in the chamber 4l so that the switch i7 would remain closed and the pump operate continuously regardless of the pressure in the passage 26.

lf desired, pressure changes in the storage tank may be sensed at a point in the water passage outside of the well casing and in the delivery pipe 9. Such a modification is shown in FIG. 5 in which the parts in conimon with F-lG. Z bear corresponding reference numerals. While the nipple 35 may be threaded directly into a T- shaped iitting interposed in the pipe, it is in the present instance coupled to the top of a small dome-shaped casting `64 having threaded anges 65 into which adjacent ends of the pipe 9 are screwed.

With this arrangement, a substantial volume of air may accumulate in the dome and acts as the medium for transmitting the pressure changes to the lower chamber el and therefore to the ilexible partition 35. As before, the damage of false actuation of the switch is minimized by inter-posing a restriction 62 in the passage through the nipple 35.

The conduit 34 and the capillary tube 5l are enclosed in a tube 69 screwed at its lower end into the top oi the dome 64 and at its upper end into a cap 613 supporting the stem 43 of the switch actuator 33. With the housing 65 thus mounted and disposed outside of the well casing, the pressure sensinfr parts may be removed easily for servicing. After removal of switch casing 33 and the cap 56, the conduit may be unscrewed and detached from the dome 64 by means of a suitable tool engaged with lugs 67 around the upper end of the conduit. Replacement of the conduit in the dome 6ft is facilitated by tapering the lower end of the nipple 35 to form a conical surface 6?; by which the nipple is guided into the hole into the dome to bring the nipple threads into engagement with those in the dome.

The pressure sensing and transmitting means in the forms described above is simple and inexpensive in construction and .compactly arranged within the narrow space available in the well casing. It may Ibe installed without twisting or other deformation of the coupled parts which might break the joints and result in objectionable leakage.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 691,438, filed October 24, 1957, and now abandoned.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for sensing changes in water pressure in a pitless water pump installation of the deep well type and actuating the pump control switch of said installation, the combination o-f a well enclosure having a water passage therein, said water passage being located below the frost line, a pressure actuating switch located above said Water passage and outside of said well enclosure where it issubjected to `freezing temperatures, said switch including an, actuator chamber,V a lluid tight conduit for transmitting pressure changes from said water passage tothe Vactuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch, said .conduit comprising a rigid walled tube connected at one end in fluid tight communication with said water passage, a tubular couplingY closing the other end of said Vtube and having a passage extending therethrough, a capillary tube having one end permanently sealed in said coupling in communication with said passage in said tubular coupling, a tubular tting extending from the inside to theoutside of said well enclosure and mounted in the wall of the enclosure, said fitting having a passage extending therethrough, the other end of said capillary tube being permanently sealed to the inner end of said fitting in communication with the passage therethrough, the outside end of said fitting forming the terminal ot said conduit, a mechanically detachable fluid tight connection joining the outer end of said fitting and the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch with said actuator chamber in communication with said iitting passage, a tlexible tube closed at one end and loosely litting within said rigid walled tube with the other end permanently sealed to the inner end of said coupling and communicating with the passage therein, said flexible tube forming a pressure transmitting iiuid tight partition separating said conduit into upper and lower sections, and a non-freezing liquid substantially filling said upper section.

2. In a device for sensing changes in water pressure in a pitless water pump installation of the deep well type and actuating the pump control switch of said installation, the combination of a well enclosure having a water passage therein, said water passage being located below the frost line, a pressure actuated switch located above said water passage and outside said well enclosure where it is subjected to freezing temperatures, said switch including an actuator chamber, a fluid tight conduit for transmitting pressure changes from said water passage to the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch, said conduit comprising a rigid walled tube connected at one end in fluid tight communication with said water passage, a capillary tube permanently sealed to the other end of said tube and communicating therewith, a tubular fitting extending from the inside to the outside of said enclosure and mounted in the wall of said well enclosure, said fitting having a passage therethrough and the other end of said capillary tube being permanently sealed to the inner end of said fitting in communication with said titting passage, means providing a iiuid tight connection between the outer end of the fitting and said actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch, a fiexible wall within said tube permanently sealed to the wall of said conduit to form a pressure transmitting tluid tight partition in said conduit, and a non-freezing liquid substantially yfilling said conduit above said partition.

3. in a device for sensing changes in water pressure in a pitless water pump installation of the deep well type and actuating the pump control switch of said installation, the combination of a well enclosure having a water passage therein, said water passage being located below the frost line, a pressure actuated switch located above said water passage and outside of said well enclosure where it is subjected to `freezing temperatures, said switch including an actuator chamber, a fluid tight conduit for transmitting pressure changes from said water passage to the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch, said conduit comprising a rigid walled tube connect-ed at one end in fiuid tight communication with said water passage, a tubular coupling closing the other end oi said tube and having a passage extending therethrough, a capillary tube having one end permanently sealed in said coupling in communication with said passage in said tubular coupling, a tubular fitting extending from the inside to the outside of said well enclosure and mounted in the wall of the enclosure, said fitting having a passage extending therethrough, the other end of said capillary tube being permanently sealed to the inner end of said fitting in communication with the passage therethrough, the outside end of said fitting forming the terminal of said conduit, a mechanically detachable liuid tight connection joining the outer end of said iitting and the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch with said actuator chamber in communication with said tting passage, a iiexible tube closed at one end and loosely tting within said rigid walled tube with the outer end permanently sealed to the inner end or said coupling and communicating with the passage therein, said sasso liexible tube forming a pressure transmitting fluid tight partition separating said conduit into upper and lower sections, said `fiuid tight conduit and said liexible tube constituting a unitary assembly having a detachable threaded connection with a defining wall of said water passage, and a non-freezing liquid substantially iilling said upper section.

4. In a device for sensing changes in water pressure in a pitless water pump installation of the deep well type and actuating the pump control switch of said installation, the combination of a well enclosure having a water passage therein, said water passage being located below the frost line, a pressure actuated switch located above said water passage and outside of said well enclosure where it is subjected to freezing temperatures, said switch including an actuator chamber, a fiuid tight conduit for transmitting pressure changes from said water passage to the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch, said conduit comprising a rigid walled tube connected at one end in liuid tight communication with said water passage, a tubular coupling closing the other end of said tube and having a passage extending therethrough, a capillary tube having one end permanently sealed in said coupling in communication with said passage in said tubular coupling, a tubular fitting extending from the in side to the outside of said well enclosure and mounted in the wall of the enclosure, said fitting having a passage extending therethrough, the other end of said capillary tube being permanently sealed to the inner end of said fitting in communication with the passage therethrough, the outside end of said fitting forming the terminal of said conduit, a mechanically detachable fluid tight connection joining the outer end of said fitting and the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch with said actuator chamber in communication with said itting passage, a fiexibleA tube closed at one end and loosely fitting within said rigid walled tube with the outer end permanently sealed to the inner end of said coupling and communicating with the passage therein, said yflexible tube forming a pressure transmitting liuid tight partition separating said conduit into upper and lower sections, said lower section including a restricted passage between said water passage and said lower section sui'liciently small in area to prevent the transmission of momentary pressure pulses in said water passage through said restricted passage to said upper section and actuation of said pressure actuated switch in response to such pulses, and a non-freezing liquid substantially filling said upper section.

5. A device for sensing changes in pressure of water ifiowing in a passage, the combination of an enclosure defining a water passage, a pump for forcing water through said passage, a pressure actuated switch having an actuating .chamber for controlling operation of said pump, said water passage being located below the frost line and said switch being located above said frost line, a tubular enclosure extending upwardly from a wall deining said water passage, a fluid tight conduit within said tubular enclosure for transmitting pressure changes from said water passage to the actuator chamber of said pressure actuated switch and comprising a unitary assembly including a rigid walled tube within said tubular enclosure, means for detachably connecting one end of said rigid walled tube to a defining wall ot said water passage, a capillary tube within said tubular enclosure having one end permanently sealed to the other end of said rigid walled tube and communicating therewith, a tubular iitting extending from the inside to the outside of said tubular enclosure and mounted in a wall of said tubular enclosure, said fitting having a passage therethrough communicating with the actuator chamber of said switch, and the other end of said capillary tube being permanently sealed to the inner end of said tubular fitting in communication with said fitting passage, a liexible tube loosely fitting within said rigid walled tube and closed at one end with its other end permanently sealed to said other end of said capillary tube and in cornmunication therewith, said exible tube forming a pressure transmitting iiuid tight partition separating said iuicl tight conduit into upper and lower sections, and a nonfreezing liquid substantially filling said upper section, said unitary assembly including said rigid walled tube, the means for detaehably connecting said rigid walled tube to a wall defining said water passage, the capillary tube, the tubular tting, and said flexible tube being removable as a unit from said tubular enclosure upon detaching Said connecting means between said rigid walled tube and the wall defining said water passage.

Ref

erenees lifted in le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mekelburg May 12, Cooney Sept. 8, Brown June 15, Winton Ian. 11, Phelps Apr. 11, Allan Ian. 2, Patterson Apr. 8, Martin et al Ian. 17, 

2. IN A DEVICE FOR SENSING CHANGES IN WATER PRESSURE IN A PITLESS WATER PUMP INSTALLATION OF THE DEEP WELL TYPE AND ACTUATING THE PUMP CONTROL SWITCH OF SAID INSTALLATION, THE COMBINATION OF A WELL ENCLOSURE HAVING A WATER PASSAGE THEREIN SAID WATER PASSAGE BEING LOCATED BELOW THE FROST LINE, A PRESSURE ACTUATED SWITCH LOCATED ABOVE SAID WATER PASSAGE AND OUTSIDE SAID WELL ENCLOSURE WHERE IT IS SUBJECTED TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES, SAID SWITCH INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR CHAMBER, A FLUID TIGHT CONDUIT FOR TRANSMITTING PRESSURE CHANGES FROM SAID WATER PASSAGE TO THE ACTUATOR CHAMBER OF SAID PRESSURE ACTUATED SWITCH, SAID CONDUIT COMPRISING A RIGID WALLED TUBE CONNECTED AT ONE END IN FLUID TIGHT COMMUNICATION WITH SAID WATER PASSAGE, A CAPILLARY TUBE PERMANENTLY SEALED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID TUBE AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH, A TUBULAR FITTING EXTENDING FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND MOUNTED IN THE WALL OF SAID WELL ENCLOSURE, SAID FITTING HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH AND THE OTHER END OF SAID CAPILLARY TUBE BEING PERMANENTLY SEALED TO THE INNER END OF SAID FITTING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FITTING PASSAGE, MEANS PROVIDING A FLUID TIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OUTER END OF THE FITTING AND SAID ACTUATOR CHAMBER OF SAID PRESSURE ACTUATED SWITCH, A FLEXIBLE WALL WITHIN SAID TUBE PERMANENTLY SEALED TO THE WALL OF SAID CONDUIT TO FORM A PRESSURE TRANSMITTING FLUID TIGHT PARTITION IN SAID CONDUIT, AND A NON-FREEZING LIQUID SUBSTANTIALLY FILLING SAID CONDUIT ABOVE SAID PARTITION. 